The president of the International Chess Federation (Fide), Arkady Dvorkovich, has suspended his duties after being placed on the European Union’s latest sanctions list, throwing the chess world into turmoil.
Dvorkovich, 54, a former Russian deputy prime minister and adviser to the Kremlin, now faces an EU travel ban and asset freeze. The EU said he was sanctioned for “publicly supporting the annexation of Crimea and calling occupied Ukrainian cities ‘new territories’ of the Russian Federation.” He was also cited for his presence on the board of the Chess Federation of Russia, which has organised tournaments in occupied areas of Ukraine.
“Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE president and former Russian deputy PM, suspends duties after EU sanctions for supporting Russia's war.”
In a statement, Dvorkovich said he had decided to “voluntarily suspend the exercise of my powers and duties,” but told the BBC he had not resigned. He called the sanctions decision “unlawful and unfair” and said they were meant “to prevent me from running and serving for Fide.” He added, “I am confident that justice will prevail.”
Ukraine hailed the move as “an important victory.” Volodymyr Kovalchuk, first vice president of the Ukrainian Chess Federation, said: “We hope never to see this man in the chess world again. People who develop sport in the interests of an aggressor state have no place in senior international positions.” Malcolm Pein, England’s representative to Fide, described it as “an earthquake and a massive diplomatic victory for Ukraine.”
The suspension comes after years of tension over Russian influence within Fide. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago, Russian national teams were banned from international competitions. But Ukraine and its allies say Russian influence intensified under Dvorkovich’s leadership. Moscow has been accused of carrying out a “slow takeover” of the federation, changing internal rules and pressuring other nations’ officials, which Moscow denies.
Two years ago, with Dvorkovich at the helm, an attempt was made to officially re-admit Russian teams and officials. But in a crucial vote in September 2024, the Fide general assembly opted to maintain sanctions against Russia and its ally, Belarus.
Dvorkovich was first elected Fide president in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Fide Deputy President Viswanathan Anand, a former world champion, will take over his duties. In 2022, Anand told AFP that Dvorkovich had “clearly demonstrated that he is independent of Kremlin influence.”
The sanctions will remain in effect for as long as Dvorkovich is subject to EU and Swiss restrictions. Pein said the move “may significantly reduce Russia’s influence in the world of chess, something which – formerly the USSR and then Russia – has dominated and used as a tool of soft power since the Second World War.”